Importance

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Abstract

Novel structural members are provided that are flexible prior to being rigidized. The structural members are fabricated as bundles of reinforcing fibers commingled with binder materials, e.g. thermoplastic yarn, and a heat source. Means for compressing the bundle during deployment may also be provided. The structural members are rigidized by activating the heat source to melt the binder material, which flows throughout the bundle to bind the reinforcing fibers together, such that when the binder sets or hardens a rigid, reinforced structural member is provided. In preferred embodiments, these structural members are attached to an inflatable enclosure in a structural framework arrangement to form an inflatable structure. Such an inflatable structure may be rolled or folded into a compact space for storage and transport, such as into outer space. The structure may be deployed at a desired location by inflating the enclosure to stretch the structural member bundles into the desired configuration and actuating the heating elements to activate the binder material. After the binder has set, the structure is rigid and inflation pressure may be removed, leaving a rigidized enclosure or a reinforced structural member.

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First Claim